The Meaning of annai [案内] In Japanese

案内
あんない
Romaji: annai N5

What does 案内 mean?

Translation and Meaning

guidance, information, directions

Definition

案内 means the service or act of providing information or directions to help someone navigate a place, event, or process; it covers both indicating where to go and what to expect, typically in a polite, customer-oriented context.

Type

Noun; commonly used as 案内, and can form 案内する to mean to guide or inform; forms a suru-verb in verbal construction.

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Guidance and information to help navigate a place, event, or process.
  • An information desk, reception, or service that provides directions, schedules, or local details.
  • The act or capability of guiding someone, including escorting or leading a tour.

Etymology

Phonetic evolution: derived from on’yomi readings of 案 (an) and 内 (nai); the compound is pronounced annai with historical gemination between n and n.

Composition

  • 案: plan, proposal, idea
  • 内: inside, within

Usage

Used in formal and service contexts to indicate providing directions or information; as a verb, 案内する, it means to guide or inform; common in travel, hospitality, events, and customer service; typical phrases include 案内します, 案内をお願いいたします.
💡 Tips
Imagine a signboard showing a plan inside a building: following the plan inside leads you to the right entrance, and the double n in annai signals the transition between the two kanji sounds.

Variations

  • ガイド gaido — a loanword for guide; used in travel contexts.
  • 案内役 anaiyaku — a person who guides others; a host or guide.
  • 導き michibiki — a more literary term for guidance, showing a direction.

Example Phrases

  • 彼は 友人のように 見える、 言わば 僕の 案内役だ。
    Kare wa yūjin no yō ni mieru, iwaba boku no annaiyaku da.
    He seems like a friend, in a sense, my guide.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (Kare wa) – he
    • 友人のように (yūjin no yō ni) – like a friend
    • 見える (mieru) – to appear / look
    • 言わば (iwaba) – so to speak
    • 僕の (boku no) – my
    • 案内役だ (annaiyaku da) – is a guide
    「言わば」 marks a figurative nuance, meaning ‘so to speak’ or ‘in a sense’ here.
  • 駅の 案内を 受けて、 目的地へ 行った。
    Eki no annai o ukete, mokutekichi e itta.
    I followed the station’s guidance and headed to my destination.
    Lista:
    • 駅の (eki no) – station’s
    • 案内を (annai o) – guidance
    • 受けて (ukete) – receiving
    • 目的地へ (mokutekichi e) – to the destination
    • 行った (itta) – went
    「案内」は名詞 meaning ‘guidance/information’. In this sentence, 「案内を受けて」 indicates ‘to receive guidance’.
  • 道で女の人に道案内を頼んだ、彼女は親切だった。
    Michi de onna no hito ni dōanai o tanonda, kanojo wa shinsetsu datta.
    I asked a woman for directions on the street, and she was kind.
    Lista:
    • 道で (michi de) – on the street
    • 女の人に (onna no hito ni) – to a woman
    • 道案内を (dōanai o) – directions
    • 頼んだ (tanonda) – asked
    • 彼女は (kanojo wa) – she
    • 親切だった (shinsetsu datta) – was kind
    Core grammar: に marks the indirect object; here 「女の人に」 indicates who was asked for directions.
  • 会場へ向かう途中、道案内をスマホで確認した。
    Kaijō e mukau tochū, dōannai o sumaho de kakunin shita.
    On the way to the venue, I checked the directions on my smartphone.
    Lista:
    • 会場へ (kaijō e) – to the venue
    • 向かう (mukau) – to head toward
    • 途中、 (tochū) – on the way
    • 道案内を (dōannai o) – directions
    • スマホで (sumaho de) – on a smartphone
    • 確認した (kakunin shita) – checked
    The word 「会場」 marks the destination in this sentence, used with へ向かう to express going toward it; 途中 indicates ‘on the way’.
  • 駅の 係員 は 優しい 笑顔 で 案内 してくれた。
    Eki no kakariin wa yasashii egao de annai shite kureta.
    The station attendant guided me with a kind smile.
    Lista:
    • 駅の (eki no) – of the station
    • 係員 (kakariin) – staff
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 優しい (yasashii) – kind
    • 笑顔 (egao) – smile
    • で (de) – at/with
    • 案内 (annai) – guidance
    • してくれた (shite kureta) – did for me
    Core: 「優しい」 is an i-adjective; here it precedes the noun 「笑顔」 to form 「優しい笑顔」 meaning a kind smile.
案内